Door with integral antenna

ABSTRACT

A door and method of constructing a door whereby antenna coils are routed through channels that are incorporated within the frame of the door, and completely or partially hidden from sight. The door includes channels and or troughs that are sized to retain at least a portion of the antenna therein. The door can be purchased with the antenna wires already embedded therein and hidden from sight and installed at a facility without the need to mount the antenna wires on a pedestal or dig up floors and/or walls to embed the antenna coils. Existing doors can be retrofitted to install the antenna wires. Such antennas may be used, for example, in an RFID marker system or a magneto-acoustic EAS marker system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Statement of the Technical Field

The present invention relates to antennas and more particularly to adoor having an antenna integrated within its framework such that a doorwith an embedded antenna may be installed at the exit/entrance of afacility to provide surveillance without the antenna being visible.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a surveillance system, antennas, such as EAS (“Electronic ArticleSurveillance”) antennas or RF (Radio Frequency) antennas transmitinterrogation signals that are received by markers such as RadioFrequency ID (RFID) or magneto-acoustic markers, located on merchandisewithin an establishment. The markers send corresponding signals back tothe antenna. Thus, the interaction between the antennas and the markersestablish an interrogation zone that can provide an establishment, suchas a retail store, with a security system for its merchandise.Conventional surveillance systems include antennas that are typicallylocated on a pedestal situated near the entrance of a store. However,pedestals are typically not desired by small store owners since theytake up much-needed space and provide an unappealing aesthetic look.

One attempted solution to the aforementioned problem faced by smallretail stores is to hide the transmitter and receiver coils in thefloor, walls and/or ceiling. This allows retailers to utilize valuablefloor, wall and/or counter space, while still maintaining a merchandisesecurity system. However, a problem that often arises with thisattempted solution is the prohibitive construction costs associated withembedding coils in existing structures. Even if the store owner waswilling to pay these costs, construction such as this is sometimes notallowed in rental situations, non-ground level locations, or in mallsgoverned by strict construction rules.

Other attempted solutions have included routing loop antennas arounddoorways or externally mounting loop antennas on a door frame. Eachincludes inherent problems. In the former case, routing loop antennasaround doorways involves digging into the floor leading to unwantedconstruction costs, while the latter attempt results in visible wiresthat are unsightly. Attempts such as these fail because they do notadequately integrate the antenna into the store's decor to make theantenna as invisible as possible. In addition, such antennainstallations are difficult and expensive, are invasive to the store'sflooring, and do not provide an efficient and effective surveillancesystem.

Therefore, what is needed is a door that integrates an antenna into thedoor construction such that the antenna is hidden from obvious sight,and enables a facility to order an “antenna-ready” door at the time ofconstruction and add system electronics at a later time if desiredwithout any significant invasive, time consuming and/or expensiveconstruction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the deficiencies in the art with respectto the location and placement of antennas. An antenna, such as an EAS oran RF antenna, sends interrogation signals which are received by markerslocated on merchandise within a range of detection, i.e., an“interrogation zone”. The markers send corresponding signals back to theantenna. Antennas used in these types of merchandise-surveillancesystems are typically floor-mounted on a pedestal. Pedestals take upmuch-needed space, ordinarily reserved for merchandise, and areunsightly. In this regard, a door and method of constructing a door, isprovided, whereby the antenna coils are routed through channels withinthe frame of the door, and completely or partially hidden from sight. Astore owner can purchase “antenna-ready” doors, install the doors, andconnect other components of the system to the embedded antenna wires. Inthis fashion, the antenna wires can be hidden from view within the door,thus removing unsightly pedestals and increasing floor and/or wallspace.

According to one aspect, a method of constructing a door having anembedded antenna therein, is provided. The method includes providing adoor, incorporating one or more channels within the door, where eachchannel is sized to retain at least a portion of the antenna, andinserting at least a portion of the antenna within the one or morechannels.

According to another aspect of the invention, a door having an embeddedantenna therein is provided. The door includes one or more antennaretention channels, wherein at least one channel is sized to retain atleast a portion of the antenna.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspectsof the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elementsand combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It isto be understood that both the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred,it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a pair of wood doors having an embedded antennain accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a pair of metal doors having an embedded antennain accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a pair of glass doors having an embedded antennain accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along section A-A in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is an alternate sectional view taken along section A-A in FIGS.1-3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a pair of metal doors having overlapping antennaloops and an embedded capacitor board; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a pair of metal doors having overlappingconductor loops whereby the capacitor board is remotely located.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention advantageously provides a door and a method ofconstructing a door that is fabricated to include channels, or guides,whereby the guides contain one or more conductors of an antenna that ispart of an merchandise surveillance system. Referring now to the drawingfigures in which like reference designators refer to like elements thereis shown in FIG. 1 an apparatus constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention and designated generally as “10.”Apparatus 10 includes a pair of doors 12 and 14. Doors 12 and 14 may beof any dimension and material and may be located anywhere within afacility. In one embodiment, doors 12 and 14 are situated near anentrance/exit location in a facility, such as a retail store. Each door12 and 14 includes one or more channels 16 within each door. Channel 16is fabricated as part of the interior of the door such that the channel16 is sized to retain an antenna wire 18 whereby the antenna wire 18 ishidden from sight, or at least partially obscured. FIG. 1 shows twodoors 12 and 14 for illustrative purposes only. The invention is notlimited to the number or location of the doors. Antenna 18 can be an EASantenna such as may be used in a magneto-acoustic marker system, an RFantenna for an RFID marker system or any other type of antenna that cantransmit communication signals to a marker, where the marker can detectthe incoming signals.

Antenna 18 is part of a surveillance system used to monitor activitywithin the facility. The antenna 18 may be configured as a transceiverantenna with an associated controller (not shown) that provides controland switching to switch from transmitting to receiving functions atpredetermined time intervals. Those skilled in the art will recognizethat there may be a separate transmitting and receiving cables withinantenna 18. Antenna 18 emits electromagnetic signals covering a certaininterrogation zone within the facility. Within the interior of thefacility such as a retail establishment, various markers are placed onitems or assets to be protected within the interrogation zone. If themarker is not removed from the item or deactivated prior to entering theinterrogation zone, the electromagnetic field established by antenna 18will cause a response from the marker. This response is received by thereceiving cable or the transceiver cable of the antenna 18.

In FIG. 1, a pair of wooden doors 12 and 14, includes channels 16 thatcontain antenna loops 18. Channels 16 can be made by routing a pathwithin the frame of door 12 and door 14. In this embodiment, each door12 and 14, includes two antenna wire loops 18 shown by the dashed linesin FIG. 1. The embedded antenna wire 18 need not be situated in theconfiguration shown in FIG. 1. For example, a single channel 16 can beprovided around the perimeter of each door, thus resulting in a singleembedded antenna loop 18 within each door. Other antenna loop 18orientations are within the scope of the invention. Doors 12 and 14 maybe purchased with channels 16 already incorporated therein. The retailstore may request one or more doors with specific channel paths,depending upon the needs of the store, i.e., the size of the requiredinterrogation zone, and the amount of antenna wire needed to properlymonitor the interrogation zone. After receiving the doors with thechannels 16 therein, the store may then insert antenna wire 18 withinthe channels 16, or have this procedure performed by a third party, orsimply purchase the doors 12 and/or 14 with the antenna wires 18 alreadyembedded therein.

Doors 12 and 14, when viewed from any angle, do not readily reveal theembedded antenna wires 18, or, in another embodiment, obscures a portionof the antenna 18. Because the antenna wires 18 are concealed within theinterior of the door frame as opposed to mounting the conductors 18 on apedestal, which is unsightly and may be difficult if space is limitedand at a premium, the result is an appealing aesthetic look. The woodendoors 12 and 14 shown in FIG. 1 are illustrative only, and the inventionis not limited to wooden doors or doors of a specific material.

For example, in FIG. 2, a pair of metal doors 12 and 14, incorporatingthe features of the present invention, are shown. In this embodiment,each door 12 and 14, includes a pair of conductor loops 18 therein. Eachloop 18 is routed through a channel 16 in each door. The channels 16 inmetal doors 12 and 14 can be formed, for example, by extrusion of theframe elements of door 12 and door 14. In this example, the channel 16is routed around the perimeter of each door frame. Unlike a wooden door,which typically does not include any window or other opening in thedoor, the metal doors 12 and 14 may each include a window 20. Thus, inorder to hide the antenna wires 18 from view, the antenna wires 18 arerouted in channels 16 provided within the perimeter of each door 12 and14. The perimeter of each door 12 and 14 is non-transparent, thus hidingthe antennas 18 from view. An air gap 22 is typically provided withinthe frame of metal doors 12 and 14 to prevent the antenna 18 frominducing a current in the metal door frame that would adversely impactthe performance of the surveillance system.

FIG. 3 illustrates the present invention used with glass doors 12 and14. Antenna wires 18 are once again routed within the interior of doors12 and 14 such that they cannot be seen, or are at least partiallyobscured. Glass doors 12 and 14 are typically comprised of opposingglass panes. Thus, for example, door 12 may be comprised of opposingglass panes, with an air gap therebetween. The glass panes form thefront and the back of door 12. Antenna coil 18 is routed within achannel 16 and between each glass pane. The same concept may be used forglass door 14. In an alternate embodiment, an acrylic sheet can beinserted within the glass door frame, and antenna 18 embedded within theacrylic sheet.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along section A-A in FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 4illustrates one embodiment of the present invention, whereby a singleantenna coil 18 is routed and hidden within a corresponding channel 16,with the frame of doors 12 and 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4,the section of door 12 is shown along the lines A-A, as illustrated inFIG. 1. Door frame 22 includes a series of longitudinal channels 16.Within each channel 16 is a single antenna coil 18. Thus, each antennacoil 18 is hidden within a corresponding channel 16, and is embeddedwith the door frame 22, and at least partially hidden from sight.

FIG. 5 is an alternate sectional view taken along section A-A in FIGS.1-3. In this embodiment, a single cable assembly 26, is inserted withina single trough 24, as depicted in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, only onetrough 24 within frame 22 is required. It is within the scope of theinvention to include multiple troughs 24 within the frame 22. Cableassembly 26 may contain all of the antenna wires 18 of the surveillancesystem. In this scenario, a single trough 24 is routed within door frame22. In the case of glass doors being used, one glass pane includingtrough 24 and the cable assembly 26 therein, is “sandwiched” against theopposing glass pane.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention. As in theembodiment shown in FIG. 2, a pair of antenna loops 18 is shown; one indoor 12 and one in door 14. However, in this embodiment, there is anoverlap between the upper conductor loops 18A in doors 12 and 14 and thelower conductor loops 18B in door 12 and door 14. This embodimentillustrates the flexibility of the invention. Channels 16 may retainantenna wire 18 from different EAS antenna loops, and/or may containmore than one wire.

Included in the door 12 shown in FIG. 6, is an embedded resonatingcapacitor board 28. Capacitor board 28 may be embedded anywhere withindoors 12 or 14, such recessed within a separate trough 24 includedwithin the frame of either door. Capacitor board 28 may be hidden fromsight, similar to embedded antennas 18. In an alternate embodiment, asshown in FIG. 7, capacitor board 28 is not embedded within doors 12 or14 but is situated at a different location, proximate the doors, yet inelectric communication with the embedded antenna wires 18.

The capacitor board 28 described above need not be in physical proximitywith the embedded antenna coils 18. Capacitor board 28 typicallyincludes one or more resonating capacitors in a parallel or a seriesconnection with antenna 18. The store owner, upon weighing the cost ofembedding the capacitor board 28 within door 12, and the physicalconstraints of the interrogation zone, may choose not to embed board 28and, instead, situation board 28 at a location near door 12. Ifcapacitor board 28 is to be embedded within door 12, it will reside ineither its own recessed trough 24 or within an existing recessed trough24 or channel, that also contains other portions of the antenna 18.

The present invention incorporates a method of constructing doors 12having embedded within the door's frame, at least a portion of anantenna 18. A store owner, for example, may wish to install asurveillance system to monitor marked items throughout the store. Thestore owner can place an order for a door 12 or set of doors 12 and 14,to be installed by the store's entrance or exit area. An order can beplaced for a door 12 having an embedded antenna 18. The door 12 isfabricated to include one or more channels 16, where each channel 16 issized to receive one or more antenna coils 18, along with, perhaps,other portions of the antenna 18 such as the resonating capacitor board28. The channels 16 are provided within the frame 22 of door 12 such asby routing, extruding, etc., and portions of the antenna 18 insertedtherein such that the antenna 18 is hidden or at least partiallyobscured from sight. The door 12 can be of any material such as but notincluding glass, aluminum, and or wood. The door 12, upon arrival at thestore, can be installed near the store's entrance and the embeddedantenna 18 electrically connected with other components of thesurveillance system, without the need for any invasive construction.

The present invention therefore advantageously provides an apparatus andmethod that allows establishments such as retail stores to installsurveillance systems where the antenna 18 is hidden from sight, or atleast partially obscured within a door 12 proximate the entrance or exitlocation of the store. Particularly, the invention provides a doorhaving one or more recesses or channels 16 incorporated within its frame22. At least a portion of an antenna 18 is inserted within the channel16. In one embodiment, a resonant capacitor board 28 is also embeddedwithin a trough 24 in the frame 22 of the door 12. In anotherembodiment, the capacitor board 28 is not embedded within door 12, butplaced at a separate location, where it is in electronic communicationwith the embedded antenna 18.

Significantly, this invention can be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, andaccordingly, reference should be had to the following claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of theinvention.

1. A method of constructing a door having an embedded antenna therein,the method comprising: providing a door; incorporating one or morechannels within the door, each channel being sized to retain at least aportion of the antenna; and inserting at least a portion of the antennawithin the one or more channels.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein afterinsertion within the one or more channels, no portion of the antenna isvisible.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the door is made of wood. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the door is made of metal.
 5. The methodof claim 4, further comprising providing an air gap in the metal doorframe.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the door is made of glass. 7.The method of claim 6, further comprising providing opposing panes ofglass, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is inserted between thepanes of glass.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting aresonating capacitor board within a recessed area of the door.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more channels is sized toretain multiple antenna coils.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein eachof the one or more channels is sized to retain a single antenna coil.11. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna is part of an EASinterrogation system.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna ispart of an RFID interrogation system.
 13. A door having an embeddedantenna therein, the door comprising one or more antenna retentionchannels, wherein at least one channel is sized to retain at least aportion of the antenna.
 14. The door of claim 13, wherein no portion ofthe antenna is visible.
 15. The door of claim 13, wherein the door ismade of wood.
 16. The door of claim 13, wherein the door is made ofmetal.
 17. The door of claim 16, further comprising an air gap in themetal door frame.
 18. The door of claim 13, wherein the door is made ofglass.
 19. The door of claim 18, further comprising opposing panes ofglass, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is inserted between thepanes of glass.
 20. The door of claim 13, wherein at least one channelis sized to retain a portion of a resonating capacitor board.
 21. Thedoor of claim 13, wherein each of the one or more channels is sized toretain multiple antenna coils.
 22. The door of claim 13, wherein each ofthe one or more channels is sized to retain a single antenna coil. 23.The door of claim 13, wherein at least one of the one or more channelsreceives a plurality of antenna coils.
 24. The door of claim 13, whereinthe antenna is part of an EAS interrogation system.
 25. The door ofclaim 13, wherein the antenna is part of an RFID interrogation system.